Sideswipe (Movie)
| The name or term "Sideswipe" refers to more than one character or idea. For a list of other meanings, see Sideswipe (disambiguation). |
- Sideswipe is an Autobot from the Revenge of the Fallen portion of the live-action film continuity family.
Sideswipe is true to his function of Warrior. Unlike most Autobots, Sideswipe—part of a younger generation built during wartime—was made to fight. He was born during the war and with full knowledge of the Cybertronian battlefield, designed solely for killing. He's master of the quick-change transformation! [1] Before he enlisted with the Autobots, Sideswipe traveled the galaxy in search of the most proficient warriors and devastating martial arts he could find, leading to him becoming an Autobot combat instructor[2]. Though proficient with guns, he prefers melee combat to ranged weapons, and will employ any maneuver it takes to get close enough to the enemy to use his arm-mounted Cybertanium swords. His agile, wheel-legged form more than allows for this. His tactics are merciless and he's utterly unapologetic about this—war, after all, is messy.
Oh, and he's also not vain at all: those alt modes of his are chosen for speed only. It's a total coincidence that the fastest one just happens to be a sleek, sexy, concept model that's better than your car, honest! [3]
Fiction
IDW Transformers movie comics
When Sideswipe joined the Autobots he trained under the veteran warrior Ironhide, learning the arts of war. After his training was complete, he went on to become the protector of a settlement of displaced Autobots. This settlement was found by the pitiless Demolishor, who slaughtered them nearly to a bot. Sideswipe was ashamed, not only over having failed to protect his charges, but also because he had lived to tell the tale.Tales of the Fallen issue 2
After Optimus Prime's Autobots left Mission City, they left a homing beacon in a junk yard near the metropolis to attract any Autobots who might have heard Prime's rallying call to Earth. Alliance issue 3 Sideswipe was among those few that answered the beacon and had hidden themselves in the junk yard. Once discovered, they were brought to Diego Garcia to train with the other Autobots and Major Lennox's soldiers in defense of their new home. Alliance issue 4 However, Sideswipe proved a loose cannon as he continued his vendetta against Demolishor when the Decepticon turned up in Montevideo, Uruguay. Showing little regard for humans in pursuing his quarry, Sideswipe's actions prompted Ironhide to arrive on the scene to rein him in. The younger Autobot was openly insubordinate towards Ironhide, warning him not to get in the way. Ultimately all the old veteran could do was to serve as damage control during Sideswipe's singleminded pursuit. Ultimately more reinforcements from NEST arrived, and Demolishor fled the scene. In the aftermath, Sideswipe saw the fear and mistrust the humans regarded him with because of his violent actions. Understanding this, he was forced to admit that Ironhide's admonishment of him was correct. Tales of the Fallen issue 2
Sideswipe didn't have long to wait for another shot at his nemesis. Soon enough, Demolishor had been sighted in Shanghai, China. Alliance issue 4
Titan Magazines ROTF comic
| “ | Skids? Mudflap? Hhh. What have I ever done to deserve this? | ” |
—Sideswipe on his training position, Reversal of Fortune | ||
Sideswipe served as a combat instructor at NEST's Scottish base, and had to put Skids and Mudflap back through basic training—something he was fed up of. As far as he was concerned, they should've been put on charge for causing Grindor to escape and he should have better things to do. He dealt with this by putting the twins through simulated combat after simulated combat, finally cracking it up to maximum setting, before someone knocked him out.
When he came to, the twins were babbling about how a mysterious and long-vanished Decepticon working for another mysterious Decepticon had done it and tried to kill them! Sideswipe was having none of it, viewing this as implausible and believing the twins knocked him out in revenge for training and were covering themselves. Between this and Grindor, he was becoming suspicious of them... New Tricks
Following the training, poor Sideswipe took them to Diego Garcia and continued to be pestered by them for a meeting with Prime. Not trusting them and ignoring their babble about some "dude", he tried to discourage them, only for the two to sneak off behind his back. Sighing, he went in pursuit... and saw them distract Prime before a Decepticon attacked, Skids tripped over Prime before he could take charge, and Mudflap handed a weapon to an escaping prisoner! When Optimus remarked that someone must've compromised security, Sideswipe fingered the twins: their actions clearly showed they were turncoats! Reversal of Fortune
Revenge of the Fallen movie
- Voice actor: André Sogliuzzo (English) Akio Ohtsuka (Japanese)
Sideswipe was one of the Autobots sent to Shanghai when Decepticon energy signatures were detected, but he was initially held in reserve. As Sideways managed to flee from Arcee and the Twins in vehicle mode, Major Lennox ordered Sideswipe deployed. Sideswipe immediately sped in and quickly changed to robot mode. Catching up with Sideways by dexterously skating on his wheel-feet, Sideswipe somersaulted over the Decepticon, threw his right blade in the Decepticon's hood, and then dragged the blade in the opposite direction, tearing Sideways apart. Sideswipe took a moment to reflect on the success of his kill.
Afterwards, he returned with the other Autobots to NEST's base in Diego Garcia, where he witnessed Director Theodore Galloway air the President's concerns over the recent spate of Decepticon activity, and how the Autobots remaining on Earth might be the cause of it.
After the All Spark shard was stolen by Ravage from NEST's secured bunker and Decepticons were detected heading towards Sam Witwicky at Princeton University, Sideswipe and the other Autobots were deployed to intercept, but arrived too late: Optimus Prime had died protecting the human boy from the resurrected Megatron, Starscream and Grindor.
The Autobots and NEST arrived at a United States air base to discover that they were no longer welcome, following renewed Decepticon aggression after Prime's death, and that they were ordered to return to Diego Garcia. The emotionally overwhelmed Autobots nearly came to blows with their former allies but finally agreed to stand down and remain on Earth. When Major Lennox learned Witwicky had come up with a way to possibly resurrect Optimus Prime, NEST travelled to Egypt instead. Sideswipe, who had been covered in a cargo net while being transported in vehicle mode, relished the chance to cut through his bonds when deployed from the air. He fought off many Decepticons in Egypt, and bore witness to Sam resurrecting Optimus Prime with the Matrix of Leadership, and the death of The Fallen. Revenge of the Fallen
Games
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen - The Game
- Voice actor: Nolan North (English)
Xbox 360/Sony PS3/PC
Toys
Revenge of the Fallen
Legends Class toys
- Sideswipe (Legends, 2009)
- Japanese ID number: EZ-06
- Legends Class Sideswipe transforms into a tiny Corvette Stingray concept car. As a Legends toy, he features a simplified transformation sequence that results in swords that consist entirely out of door kibble and a lack of his trademark wheel-feet.
- The Fury of Fearswoop (Figure multi-pack, 2009)
- A "battle damaged" deco version of Legends Sideswipe was available in the Walmart-exclusive "The Fury of Fearswoop" 3-pack together with a similarly "battle damaged" version of Legends Mudflap and Deluxe class Fearswoop, a Generation 2 Hooligan-themed redeco of the 2007 Transformers movie toyline's Dreadwing.
- Bluesteel Sideswipe (Legends, 2010)
- "Bluesteel" Sideswipe is a metallic blue redeco of Legends Sideswipe, also featuring some minor detail changes.
Deluxe Class toys
- Sideswipe (Deluxe, 2009)
- Japanese ID number: RA-04
- Sideswipe transforms into a silver Corvette Stingray concept car. In this mode, he sits so low that it's difficult to roll him without scraping his undercarriage, unless you perform some careful shaping after transforming him (a trait shared by some other live-action movie Deluxe cars, such as Bumblebee and Sideways). He has the Corvette twin flag logo sculpted on both the front of the vehicle mode and on the robot mode sternum, although neither is actually painted. Sideswipe's Mech Alive gimmick is in his knees—bending his legs causes the blue armor plates on his knees to extend. He does have wheels in his feet like his character model, but the toy's feet have been designed in such a way that it can stand alone. The bonnet halves that become Sideswipe's kibble-backpack are highly posable due to the way the hinges work and can be reshaped in several ways, including wrap-around chest armor and bat-like wings. Rounding out his robot-mode awesomeness, his hips have an "invisible joint" and moving pistons, while his "blades" are geared to spin out in unison. He is totally awesome.
- Sideswipe's instructions aren't clear as to how his torso is supposed to connect with his chest in robot mode. The torso piece has a square peg on top of it and there is a corresponding square hole between the two screws holding the front of his chest together. Getting his torso section in front of his arm struts can be a somewhat snug fit. Despite this, the chest peg does have a habit of popping loose while posing the upper body, but can easily be fixed with a thin piece of card.
- Some people might notice that his heels can be turned but his "toe" piece can not. It is advised that you do not try.
- He has blue light-piping for his eyes, but it's ineffective due to backpack kibble blocking the light. Turning his head sideways makes it easier to see.
- Strike Mission Sideswipe (Deluxe, 2010)
- This redeco of Sideswipe features red translucent windows, a large black racing stripe running down the center of the car and fading black stripes on the doors. Like many Autobots in the NEST Global Alliance Revenge of the Fallen toyline refresh, he features a version of the NEST logo tampographed on him.
Human Alliance
- Sideswipe / Tech. Sergeant Epps (Human Alliance, 2009)
- Japanese ID number: RA-22
- Accessories:
- Like all Human Alliance figures, Sideswipe is designed to allow his accompanying human figure, in this case Robert Epps, to ride inside. While in many ways simply a larger version of the Deluxe toy, it has several changes. The wheeled feet now fold out into a stand system, allowing Sideswipe to stand without having to balance on the wheels, and his scissors are now rubberized to prevent injury. The scissor-hands can also be slotted into a gear system connected to the front wheels which cause them to spin as the wheels are turned. Although easy to miss, Sideswipe has more than one place to seat Epps in robot mode, as both seats and both forearms provide Human Alliance human figures a place to stand or sit. The passenger's seat transforms into a missile launcher slung over Sideswipe's other shoulder. Like the Deluxe figure, the HA Sideswipe is something of a shellformer and suffers from an excessive amount of kibble, as nearly the entire top of the vehicle mode is folded up into a backpack, with only the rear bumper being incorporated as Sideswipe's chest. Unmentioned in the instructions, there is a fold-out handle under the swiveling roof section that lines up over Epps' head when seated behind Sideswipe's shoulder, implying that the tailpipes might actually be considered another cannon or scope. This possibly explains why said tailpipes are transparent.
- Surprisingly, Sideswipe has a battle mask! Or rather, his normal head IS his battle mask, and one can lift the top portion of his forehead to reveal a thin sliver of his "real" face. It looks...odd. It's probably best to leave the thing down and never speak of this feature.
Fast Action Battlers
- Battle Blade Sideswipe (Fast Action Battler, 2009)
- Night Blades Sideswipe (Fast Action Battler, 2010)
- This redeco of Battle Blade Sideswipe colors his car mode dark gray and light green. His robot-mode bits remain silver.
Battle Chargers
- Sideswipe (Battle Charger, 2009)
Gravity Bots
- Sideswipe (Gravity Bot, 2009)
- Japanese ID number: GB-04
- As a Gravity Bot, Sideswipe uses gravity-activated autotransformation to turn into a super deformed Corvette Stingray when laid on his back. When the car is stood back up, it transforms back into its boxy robot mode. The toy features no articulation.
Robot Replicas
- Sideswipe (Robot Replicas, 2009)
- Robot Replicas Sideswipe is a non- transforming, but highly detailed and articulated interpretation of his robot mode from the movie. He features highly posable legs, arms, feet, head, waist, neck and shoulders, making him both an awesome kid's toy and display piece.
- Funnily enough, despite the Robot Replica promise of total movie-accuracy, his arm-blades are considerably shortened and are a weird metallic blue colour, rather than the silver/gray you might expect.
Power Bots
- Sideswipe (Power Bots, 2009)
- Power Bots Sideswipe is a bulky, non-transforming toy for younger children. He features limited articulation in his limbs and head, two very blunt swords, and various playing sound clips and flashing lights. He has an North Americanised Australian accent!
Merchandise
RPMs—Robot Powered Machines
Speed Series
- Sideswipe (2009)
- Number: 4
- Robot Powered Machines Sideswipe is a small, non-transforming car with his robot mode sculpted underneath. Said robot mode has his swords colored red, for some reason.
- Although a stolen prototype that surfaced in 2008 was pretty accurate to the Corvette Stingray car from the movie, the actual RPM Sideswipe toy has been severely altered and looks more like an Aston Martin. Unfortunately, Mattel was able to secure exclusive rights for releasing a Concept Stingray model car at a 1:64 scale for their Hot Wheels line (the toy was recently released as part of the "2010 New Models" lineup).
Robot Heroes
- Sideswipe and Sideways (2009)
- Sideswipe is part of the first wave of Revenge of the Fallen Robot Heroes figures and is packaged versus Sideways. He has rotational articulation at both shoulders, but his head is molded into his torso. In order to stand up, the figurine must rest its weight on one of his arms.
- Shanghai Shootout (Multi-pack, 2009)
- Shanghai Shootout replicates the opening action scene from Revenge of the Fallen, featuring figurines of Mudflap/Skids (ice cream truck), Sideways (vehicle mode), Optimus Prime, Demolishor, and Sideswipe (vehicle mode). Demolishor is a slightly-oversized figure and the centerpiece of the box set.
Trivia
- On June 11, 2008, blurry camera phone photos from the set of Revenge of the Fallen offered the first look at Sideswipe's vehicle mode, which was believed to be a 2009 Chevrolet Corvette XR1 at that time.[4] Ten days later, leaked photos offered a better look at the car being painted by Saleen, which was now revealed to be a never-seen-before Corvette model.[5] On August 7, 2008, Jalopnik claimed having received information that the car was a so-called "Corvette Centennial Concept".[6] General Motors finally admitted the car's existence at the Chicago Auto Show in February of 2009, now confirming that it was, in fact, a new Corvette Stingray concept.
- Rumored names for Sideswipe in the early days of the movie shooting were "Hot Rod"[7] (which might have been a case of fans simply suggesting a random name and other fans subsequently treating it as gospel) and "Stinger". The latter originated with a (real) call sheet leaked in June 2008, which suggests that "Stinger" was an actual working name.[8]
- Thanks to that whole General Motors bankruptcy thing, Sideswipe may be the closest we'll ever get to seeing a real Stingray.
- Sideswipe was recently announced as a new downloadable character for the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 versions of Revenge of the Fallen, alongside Soundwave. He is the only downloadable character with a G1 homage skin, which makes him twice as awesome.
- Sideswipe's Cybertronian mode was revealed in Tales of the Fallen, as well as the fact he arrived on Earth in November 2008.
References
- ↑ Sideswipe's Titan profile
- ↑ Hasbro Sideswipe Battle Bio
- ↑ Transformers: The Movie Universe
- ↑ Blurry set photos from Fairmont Park
- ↑ Photo of the Corvette being painted by Saleen at Jalopnik
- ↑ Jalopnik's story on the "Corvette Centennial Concept"
- ↑ More shots of the Corvette at Jalopnik, July 2009
- ↑ Leaked call sheet at the Transformers Live Action Movie Blog, July 2008
